Tamoxifen, Femara, Arimidex, AUGH!
Tamoxifen, Femara, Arimidex, AUGH!
on: September 22, 2008, 10:36:09 PM
I started taking femara a few months ago and felt okay until about six weeks in. Yukk - I felt bloated and just plain crummy. I thought maybe it was a combo of summer and salty food - no such luck. I felt so bloated that I was actually having a lot of discomfort - sort of the way I felt when it was early in my pregnancies (three of those, I remember them well!) - almost like I was bending over something.
Long story short, off the femara and I felt better within three days. Had to "unleash the dogs" and have a trans-abdominal and trans-vaginal ultrasound, to thankfully discover "NO CANCER!" - thank God! - but some fluid around my uterus. ( I KNEW I felt something reminiscent of those pregnancy days - yes, fluid, not baby, but close enough!)
My doc wants me on something, we'll make that determination next month when I visit, have my lupron and review the options.
So, has anyone else had a tamoxifen or femara or arimidex reaction? What did you do? Please share - I know I'm not the only one that wants to know!
Reply #1 on: October 07, 2008, 12:44:16 PM
I have been on three meds so far; when I complain, the oncologist simply says, "let's try another one." I feel like a human test case for these drugs. Arimidex, the latest one prescribed, was the worst in terms of the pain in my joints. After taking for 14 days, I said enough! I am off the meds until I see my oncologist in December. We will then re-evaulate. The side effects, including weight gain and joint pain made me decide ENOUGH!!! Oncologist mentioned putting me on Tamoxifen, but I declined. At this point, I am taking control. I've increased my Vitamin D because there are studies that say it prevents breast cancer.
Interesting just saw my radiation oncologist and she indicated I am not alone in terms of deciding not to take the meds because of the side effects!
Reply #2 on: October 07, 2008, 07:43:55 PM
I'm with 'ya, Sista!
Reply #3 on: October 08, 2008, 11:06:36 AM
I just finished all my treatments - chemo and radiation. Mixed emotions with my safety nets gone, but glad it's all behind me. Anyhow, My doctor then threw the whammy at me - he's prescribing Tamoxifen. I told him I'm not comfortable taking it. The game plan all along was surgery, chemo, radiation.. now to be told - 5 years every day taking that pill. UGH! I just can't get myself to take it. I don't like popping pills and to take one with a serious side effect of cancer...just can't swallow it! He just keeps saying benefits are greater than the risks. And it's like quitting 1/2 way through the battle. I think that's unfair to say that. Another doctor told me - don't worry - the 1st sign of uterine cancer is bleeding, since your not getting a period, you'll know right away. You'll JUST have surgery and it will be taken care of. Another told me the risks are very minimal. Yet, Every morning I look at that bottle of cancer and can't get myself to swallow that pill!
Anyone have these feelings too? Or am I just depressed or something. It's bad enough worrying about every ache and pain, but to put something in my body that I know MIGHT cause cancer... I just can't get myself to do it. I'm tired of side effects, the weight gain, and just cancer in general!
Has anyone taken tamoxifen that can easy my feelings/worries? HELP!
on: September 22, 2008, 10:36:09 PM
I started taking femara a few months ago and felt okay until about six weeks in. Yukk - I felt bloated and just plain crummy. I thought maybe it was a combo of summer and salty food - no such luck. I felt so bloated that I was actually having a lot of discomfort - sort of the way I felt when it was early in my pregnancies (three of those, I remember them well!) - almost like I was bending over something.
Long story short, off the femara and I felt better within three days. Had to "unleash the dogs" and have a trans-abdominal and trans-vaginal ultrasound, to thankfully discover "NO CANCER!" - thank God! - but some fluid around my uterus. ( I KNEW I felt something reminiscent of those pregnancy days - yes, fluid, not baby, but close enough!)
My doc wants me on something, we'll make that determination next month when I visit, have my lupron and review the options.
So, has anyone else had a tamoxifen or femara or arimidex reaction? What did you do? Please share - I know I'm not the only one that wants to know!
Reply #1 on: October 07, 2008, 12:44:16 PM
I have been on three meds so far; when I complain, the oncologist simply says, "let's try another one." I feel like a human test case for these drugs. Arimidex, the latest one prescribed, was the worst in terms of the pain in my joints. After taking for 14 days, I said enough! I am off the meds until I see my oncologist in December. We will then re-evaulate. The side effects, including weight gain and joint pain made me decide ENOUGH!!! Oncologist mentioned putting me on Tamoxifen, but I declined. At this point, I am taking control. I've increased my Vitamin D because there are studies that say it prevents breast cancer.
Interesting just saw my radiation oncologist and she indicated I am not alone in terms of deciding not to take the meds because of the side effects!
Reply #2 on: October 07, 2008, 07:43:55 PM
I'm with 'ya, Sista!
Reply #3 on: October 08, 2008, 11:06:36 AM
I just finished all my treatments - chemo and radiation. Mixed emotions with my safety nets gone, but glad it's all behind me. Anyhow, My doctor then threw the whammy at me - he's prescribing Tamoxifen. I told him I'm not comfortable taking it. The game plan all along was surgery, chemo, radiation.. now to be told - 5 years every day taking that pill. UGH! I just can't get myself to take it. I don't like popping pills and to take one with a serious side effect of cancer...just can't swallow it! He just keeps saying benefits are greater than the risks. And it's like quitting 1/2 way through the battle. I think that's unfair to say that. Another doctor told me - don't worry - the 1st sign of uterine cancer is bleeding, since your not getting a period, you'll know right away. You'll JUST have surgery and it will be taken care of. Another told me the risks are very minimal. Yet, Every morning I look at that bottle of cancer and can't get myself to swallow that pill!
Anyone have these feelings too? Or am I just depressed or something. It's bad enough worrying about every ache and pain, but to put something in my body that I know MIGHT cause cancer... I just can't get myself to do it. I'm tired of side effects, the weight gain, and just cancer in general!
Has anyone taken tamoxifen that can easy my feelings/worries? HELP!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mary Ann on -
Well, I've been off the Femara and the Lupron for two months now, and my new friend Momo Kass accurately articulated the way I feel in her own blog when she described the aftermath of her own 'cold turkey-ness' as..."a joyful reunion with myself." Whoa. Those words made me cry. And cry. And cry some more. I feel more like myself than I have since hoppin' on the cancer bus a few years ago. What a ride. I didn't even realize how crummy I was feeling until I was off of it all and realized how fabulous I now feel.
Do it all, do everything you have to do to fight to live...please.
It's easy for me to tell you not to be depressed, but it's really hard and I know it. You need to talk to your docs about your fears of Tamoxifen. If this is a life-saving protocol for you, perhaps your doc can give you the name of someone you can meet with in person, a patient that has done well with Tamoxifen and can help you ask the right questions.
Don't let your doc put a label on your battle - but please get as much info as possible before making a decision.
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